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What to do about AO?

post #1 of 75
9/6/03 at 2:45pm
Thread Starter 
  • Anders
  • Feared and Biased Moderator
So it seems like a lot of people think that AO have gone downhill in the last couple of monthsand have become a shithole. I can´t really tell the difference but probably its just me who are growing thicker skin.

But what can we do to make AO better? If it is going to be better only the users can do it.

So any idea how we could up the standarts here. Please discuss but please don´t use real AO examples because as you know it will end up in a discussion about members instead of the principles.
"I reject your reality and substitute it with my own" - President Bush
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"I reject your reality and substitute it with my own" - President Bush
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post #2 of 75
9/6/03 at 3:02pm
Delete all AO threads. Replace the link to AO with a link to www.political-debate.com and ban all users who complain, for life.



EDIT: Actually, how do you block an entire forum? I can't figure out how. But I'd like to block AO like thegelding.

2nd EDIT: Ah, I went back through thegelding's posts and found that you have to request a mod or admin to block you from a forum. So yes, I would like to be removed from the AO crowd.

3rd EDIT: Yeah, I guess I'll leave AO be. I'll just avoid heated debates. Sometimes there's something in there I like.
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post #3 of 75
9/6/03 at 3:14pm
Quote:
Originally posted by Luca Rescigno
Delete all AO threads. Replace the link to AO with a link to www.political-debate.com and ban all users who complain, for life.



EDIT: Actually, how do you block an entire forum? I can't figure out how. But I'd like to block AO like thegelding.

Perhaps "a lot of people" could just avoid AppleOutsider since it is at the bottom of the forum list and go frequent all the other forums. I go to every forum at least once a day and try to post anywhere that peaks my interest.

Nick

"During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." -George Orwell

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"During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." -George Orwell

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post #4 of 75
9/6/03 at 3:37pm
make a new forum for all the stupid threads (politics) so that AO can be somewhat sane. oh wait...
"If it weren't for my horse...I wouldn't have spent that year in college."

"If curling is an olympic sport, then oral sex is adultery. If anything, oral sex should be an olympic sport...cause it's...


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"If it weren't for my horse...I wouldn't have spent that year in college."

"If curling is an olympic sport, then oral sex is adultery. If anything, oral sex should be an olympic sport...cause it's...


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post #5 of 75
9/6/03 at 3:45pm
Let the boil fester and puss up and then lance it.

Pillage and burn it to the ground.

Nuke the whole GD place.

Seriously, make it a 20 - 80 step confirmation process to post to AO, it would make people rethink, and make sure that their post is worth it to put up with the hassle.

Or each post to AO is actually a neg. post count.

"Beware the Jabberwock , my son! The jaws that bite, the claw that catch! Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun the the frumious Bandersnatch!"

from Jabberwocky, excerpt from Alice through the looking...
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"Beware the Jabberwock , my son! The jaws that bite, the claw that catch! Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun the the frumious Bandersnatch!"

from Jabberwocky, excerpt from Alice through the looking...
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post #6 of 75
9/6/03 at 4:01pm
I think all the nonsense of AO would go over a lot easier for everyone if you stopped thinking of it as respectable debate and instead thought of it as a drinking game.

For example take a shot anytime....

You guys can make the rules on those....

Nick

"During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." -George Orwell

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"During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." -George Orwell

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post #7 of 75
9/6/03 at 4:16pm
Quote:
Originally posted by trumptman
I think all the nonsense of AO would go over a lot easier for everyone if you stopped thinking of it as respectable debate and instead thought of it as a drinking game.

For example take a shot anytime....

You guys can make the rules on those....

Good Idea.
It's just an object. It doesn't mean what you think.
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It's just an object. It doesn't mean what you think.
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post #8 of 75
9/6/03 at 4:21pm
Quote:
Originally posted by trumptman
I think all the nonsense of AO would go over a lot easier for everyone if you stopped thinking of it as respectable debate and instead thought of it as a drinking game.

For example take a shot anytime....

You guys can make the rules on those....

Nick

here's a few suggestions:
  • shot everytime u flame
  • shot everytime someone flames you
  • shot everytime you read a flame (yours or someone else's)
  • 1 shot for every post you read in a religious or political thread.
  • triple shots for contributing, in some unflaming manner, to a religious or political thread.
  • an extra shot for every extra paragraph you write in a religious or politcal thread.
  • if you try to avoid the paragraph rule by using bad grammar, you gotta take a shot per sentence.
  • if you start a religious or political thread, you gotta be the bottom of a waterfall. waterfalls starts everytime a new post is made to your thread. last poster starts, thread starter ends.
  • shot for attempting to bait someone.
  • two shots for taking the bait.
  • unlimited shots if you are underage, or are otherwise opposed to drinking.
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post #9 of 75
9/6/03 at 4:23pm
Quote:
Originally posted by LiquidR
Or each post to AO is actually a neg. post count.


Hey, that actually sounds like a good idea! I guess most people don't really care about their post count but if you had, say, a negative post count, it would reflect on you. But we'd have to have a special rule where BR and SDW each get a -2 post count whenever they post. And SDW gets a -1 every time he sends a PM to a mod whining about personal attacks too

All in good fun, people, all in good fun.
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post #10 of 75
9/6/03 at 4:33pm
Quote:
Originally posted by thuh Freak
here's a few suggestions:
  • shot everytime u flame
  • shot everytime someone flames you
  • shot everytime you read a flame (yours or someone else's)
  • 1 shot for every post you read in a religious or political thread.
  • triple shots for contributing, in some unflaming manner, to a religious or political thread.
  • an extra shot for every extra paragraph you write in a religious or politcal thread.
  • if you try to avoid the paragraph rule by using bad grammar, you gotta take a shot per sentence.
  • if you start a religious or political thread, you gotta be the bottom of a waterfall. waterfalls starts everytime a new post is made to your thread. last poster starts, thread starter ends.
  • shot for attempting to bait someone.
  • two shots for taking the bait.
  • unlimited shots if you are underage, or are otherwise opposed to drinking.

That's stupid, how about a shot everytime thuh Freak makes some friggin' sense....


(murmurs heard off post)

What? Flaming...me...never..I'm straight you 'tard....

(takes 2 shots of tequila)

Nick
(playing to lose)

"During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." -George Orwell

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"During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." -George Orwell

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post #11 of 75
9/6/03 at 4:52pm
we assign new personalities to each of the typical participants. random. they receive a message everytime that they enter that tells them the position they need to take for the day. if they dont follow, they take a shot, er, well get banned...
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post #12 of 75
9/6/03 at 5:15pm
Damn, Shit!! You mean AO wasn't already a drinking game!?!?!? Wadda he-ale

(edit) BTW is there an AAOA? (Alcholic Apple Outsider Anonymous)
"Beware the Jabberwock , my son! The jaws that bite, the claw that catch! Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun the the frumious Bandersnatch!"

from Jabberwocky, excerpt from Alice through the looking...
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"Beware the Jabberwock , my son! The jaws that bite, the claw that catch! Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun the the frumious Bandersnatch!"

from Jabberwocky, excerpt from Alice through the looking...
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post #13 of 75
9/6/03 at 5:39pm
Quote:
Originally posted by Luca Rescigno
2nd EDIT: Ah, I went back through thegelding's posts and found that you have to request a mod or admin to block you from a forum. So yes, I would like to be removed from the AO crowd.

That, if I may vent this teensy annoyance, is very stupid. Is it so hard to avoid what you think you should not be confronted with? Not much against thegelding, but the fact that he went ahead and cried and whined about it for months, and still has it in his sig (or am I wrong?)... Curls my toenails every time. I just don't get what's so great about blurting that you're too weak to do on your own what millions succeed in every day without anyone holding their hands. It's like that Chris Rock skit, where he spotlights the inane desire of some blacks (but I'm betting that there's at least that many whites doing it) to be patted on the back for "taking care of their children".

Am I the only one who reads that sig and sees:

Quote:
Potty-trained since last week and loving it!

If I ever request to be 'blocked' from AO, or have AO blocked from me, I should better just be temporarily banned from the entire cabooble. How arrogant does it sound, "AO free since blablabla and loving it"? That's some easy loving right there. And what does it mean to all the people who like to revel in AO, I don't need your nasty drivel? Somehow, I feel personally insulted. And I don't consider myself part of AO's hard core by far.

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post #14 of 75
9/6/03 at 5:40pm
Quote:
Originally posted by Luca Rescigno
3rd EDIT: Yeah, I guess I'll leave AO be. I'll just avoid heated debates. Sometimes there's something in there I like.

Next time read the whole thing.
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post #15 of 75
9/6/03 at 5:44pm
More often than not it's just a political slanging match between those supporting USA/Israel Vs Europe/Palestine...It does get tiring...

Reasoned arguments, light banter, humour all seem to fall by the way side when certain members start spitballing and calling each other liars...etc..

And to think, most of the people here are college trained or university graduates... Not too many dumb dumbs in real life..but so many behave like dumb dumbs on the boards...

But I was also thinking of changing the AO title from "Give peace a chance " to Dante's

" Abandon all hope ye whom enter here "

Or as someone said.....

" Welcome to the Bear Pit "
There are 3 types of people in the world.

Those who count.

&

Those who can't.
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There are 3 types of people in the world.

Those who count.

&

Those who can't.
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post #16 of 75
9/6/03 at 5:44pm
Quote:
Originally posted by Luca Rescigno
Next time read the whole thing.

You'll notice I'm mainly venting annoyance with months of that gelding sig. And even then, you're doing some of the age old in-out, in-out that has always been very specific to AO (and FC). "Intent to leave", they are called, and I bet not a day goes by without one from someone or other.
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post #17 of 75
9/6/03 at 5:50pm
Well excuse me for thinking out loud. I saw the post, thought about it for maybe a minute, and thought, "You know, I really don't go to AO that much, and it's annoying, I might want to ban myself from it." So I put that in. Then trumpetman posted, and I got to thinking again, and I changed my mind.

I'm not trying to win any arguments here. I know many people view someone changing their mind as a weakness. You know what? I don't give a shit. Call me weak, call me a jerk, even say I insulted you by considering the thought of banning the near-worthless piece of crap that is AO. I really don't care.

If I were trying to win an argument I wouldn't have edited my post even once, not to mention three times.

EDIT (yes I'm editing my post again!): You may or may not have noticed that this was the first time I went through an "intent to leave" thing, and it lasted something like one minute.
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post #18 of 75
9/6/03 at 6:12pm
When it gets boring here, quit Safari and go out (hanging with AOs in real life... )
How many problems have you modified or originated in the past 1 day?
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How many problems have you modified or originated in the past 1 day?
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post #19 of 75
9/6/03 at 6:14pm
I'd love to but I'm at work right now. It's not THAT bad, basically I get paid to sit at a desk and surf the internet all day and occasionally check out a book for someone. Hopefully my friends and I can go out once I'm done.
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post #20 of 75
9/6/03 at 6:18pm
Quote:
Originally posted by Luca Rescigno
You may or may not have noticed that this was the first time I went through an "intent to leave" thing, and it lasted something like one minute.

I didn't. I hardly visit AO anymore these days.

One thing though: on changing one's mind. I think it's a good point you make. It's not a weak thing to change your mind (it's contrary even). If you'd be so inclined, you might even say that banning oneself from AO is excluding the changeability, nay, the more notion of changeability of the mind. And therefore a weak thing.
I do get tired of AO, and drop out for a while, and drop back in when I'm all ready and feisty again, untill it starts getting to me again. You should not take offence at what I say, however, for I mean you no harm, nor anyone else, for that matter (except maybe for... and here should be that absent devilishly laughing -think Kelsey Grammar or whatshisname, or maybe Robert Blake; yes, THAT Robert Blake; in Lost Highway- smiley).

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post #21 of 75
9/6/03 at 6:20pm
Quote:
Originally posted by Luca Rescigno
Well excuse me for thinking out loud. I saw the post, thought about it for maybe a minute, and thought, "You know, I really don't go to AO that much, and it's annoying, I might want to ban myself from it." So I put that in. Then trumpetman posted, and I got to thinking again, and I changed my mind.

For what it's worth, maybe my opinion added to the decisions you'll be making with regards to AO in the future.

<angelically smiling smiley here |_or is it the little girl in love blinking smiley>
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post #22 of 75
9/6/03 at 6:37pm
I got an idea, bring back FIRESIDE CHAT!
And all that could have been.
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And all that could have been.
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post #23 of 75
9/6/03 at 6:48pm
A little history on Fireside Chat?
"Beware the Jabberwock , my son! The jaws that bite, the claw that catch! Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun the the frumious Bandersnatch!"

from Jabberwocky, excerpt from Alice through the looking...
Reply
"Beware the Jabberwock , my son! The jaws that bite, the claw that catch! Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun the the frumious Bandersnatch!"

from Jabberwocky, excerpt from Alice through the looking...
Reply
post #24 of 75
9/6/03 at 7:02pm
why not put a little flame icon by threads that are heated. you now like in chinese restaurant menus.

so many of the threads in a/o are fun, like a music, movie or book thread i would hate to see a/o disappear.
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post #25 of 75
9/6/03 at 7:54pm
It's all about yourself.

You decide where AO's going. Only you.
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post #26 of 75
9/6/03 at 8:07pm
It's just an object. It doesn't mean what you think.
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It's just an object. It doesn't mean what you think.
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post #27 of 75
9/6/03 at 10:05pm
I get the impression that with an election coming up, and an increase in blood pressure that the elections create, and the decrease in patience the mods have had lately, AO will go the way of FC.
"Hearing a corrupt CEO like Cheney denigrate Edwards for being a trial lawyer is like hearing a child molester complain how Larry Flint is a pervert." -johnq
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"Hearing a corrupt CEO like Cheney denigrate Edwards for being a trial lawyer is like hearing a child molester complain how Larry Flint is a pervert." -johnq
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post #28 of 75
9/6/03 at 11:45pm
Make Apple Outsider a zero-tolerance flame-free place. One ad hom and you're banned for a month.

Open a gladiatorial forum called 'The Flame Pit' or 'Hell', or something, where a thread called 'Hassan Sabbah is ****ing **** **** **** **** **** **** and a stupid **** to boot' is fair game.
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post #29 of 75
9/7/03 at 1:34am
If the posters who don't like AO can't handle it they don't have to come here.

If those people are Mods or Admin then that's a different story and the AO Mods could easily 'tighten the regime' in any way they see fit. Maybe they should be given more powers for being in the 'front line'.

Basically, imo, it's good to have a non-Mac debate forum on a Mac site. kind of in keeping with the Apple vibe - we're not PC geeks, we're Mac geeks dammit ! And that means we have a life.

If some people can't regulate themselves and it is to the detriment of everyone else, then they should be regulated from without. The Mods need to draw up AO specific rules or amendments if they care about it. If they don't care then the whingeing is just AO business as usual by us plebs.
What is Faith? When your good deed pleases you and your evil deed grieves you, you are a believer. What is Sin? When a thing disturbs the peace of your heart, give it up - Prophet Muhammad
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What is Faith? When your good deed pleases you and your evil deed grieves you, you are a believer. What is Sin? When a thing disturbs the peace of your heart, give it up - Prophet Muhammad
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post #30 of 75
9/7/03 at 1:55am
Speaking of bear pits...

In his day poor olde Shakespeare had to present plays to rabble in " the pit ", while prostitutes would hawk their wares from the balconies...while outside fishwives would be screaming louder than an F-16 breaking the sound barrier...

AO is a bear pit...but it is also a place of merriment & laughter...& in the end its only as good as the members it attracts...

So on with the tights and make like Hamlet ....
There are 3 types of people in the world.

Those who count.

&

Those who can't.
Reply
There are 3 types of people in the world.

Those who count.

&

Those who can't.
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post #31 of 75
9/7/03 at 2:30am
Quote:
Originally posted by Aquafire
AO is a bear pit...but it is also a place of merriment & laughter...& in the end its only as good as the members it attracts...

So on with the tights and make like Hamlet ....

Well, I'll leave the tights to you Aqua old chap

Seriously though, I hope they don't close it down. Where would all the 'mass debaters' go then ?
What is Faith? When your good deed pleases you and your evil deed grieves you, you are a believer. What is Sin? When a thing disturbs the peace of your heart, give it up - Prophet Muhammad
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What is Faith? When your good deed pleases you and your evil deed grieves you, you are a believer. What is Sin? When a thing disturbs the peace of your heart, give it up - Prophet Muhammad
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post #32 of 75
9/7/03 at 3:43am
Quote:
Originally posted by segovius
I'll leave the tights to you Aqua old chap

I initially read that as old clap.
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post #33 of 75
9/7/03 at 4:40am
Quote:
Originally posted by der Kopf
I initially read that as old clap.

I'll take the Buddhist version...

" The sound of one hand clapping "

PS Sedge..I'll happily don the tights...

so long as you get into that horse costume..over there..

No no not the front bit..that's for Anders..you can have the back-end... Fits you to a treat....Nee hee hee...

Pps No one is talking about closing done AO..

Maybe the Mods should just call it " Adults Only " declare it a Mods free zone & leave it us to brawl our brains out...
There are 3 types of people in the world.

Those who count.

&

Those who can't.
Reply
There are 3 types of people in the world.

Those who count.

&

Those who can't.
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post #34 of 75
9/7/03 at 4:50am
Quote:
Originally posted by Aquafire
I'll take the Buddhist version...

" The sound of one hand clapping "

PS Sedge..I'll happily don the tights...

so long as you get into that horse costume..over there..

No no not the front bit..that's for Anders..you can have the back-end... Fits you to a treat....Nee hee hee...

Pps No one is talking about closing done AO..

Maybe the Mods should just call it " Adults Only " declare it a Mods free zone & leave it us to brawl our brains out...

Where's my kudos for the 'mass debaters' line ?????

I'm wasted in here really - someone really should close this madness down pfq
What is Faith? When your good deed pleases you and your evil deed grieves you, you are a believer. What is Sin? When a thing disturbs the peace of your heart, give it up - Prophet Muhammad
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What is Faith? When your good deed pleases you and your evil deed grieves you, you are a believer. What is Sin? When a thing disturbs the peace of your heart, give it up - Prophet Muhammad
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post #35 of 75
9/7/03 at 5:06am
Quote:
Originally posted by segovius
Where's my kudos for the 'mass debaters' line ?????

Sorry Sedge..I left my seeing eye dog behind...

But since you insist..by the power invested in me as a senior member of AO..
I dub thee Sir Biggus Diccus...no no wrong bloody script..

Where was I..Oh yes...I dub thee Sir Govius ( cute eh ) Spancerus Maximus..
There are 3 types of people in the world.

Those who count.

&

Those who can't.
Reply
There are 3 types of people in the world.

Those who count.

&

Those who can't.
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post #36 of 75
9/7/03 at 6:31am
Just my two cents, AO isn't any worse than it was six months ago. And I personally believe everyone should moderate themselves.
"Hearing a corrupt CEO like Cheney denigrate Edwards for being a trial lawyer is like hearing a child molester complain how Larry Flint is a pervert." -johnq
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"Hearing a corrupt CEO like Cheney denigrate Edwards for being a trial lawyer is like hearing a child molester complain how Larry Flint is a pervert." -johnq
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post #37 of 75
9/7/03 at 7:19am
Quote:
Originally posted by Aquafire
" The sound of one hand clapping "

To be heard at a "Hottest Photo Ever" thread near you!
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post #38 of 75
9/7/03 at 9:20am
I say take off the straightjackets, add more padding to the cell walls, and really let the lunatic fringe have their way. In other words, just bring back Fireside Chat, and move it to some dark corner of the AI fora. Whether it thrives or dies is inconsequential.
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post #39 of 75
9/7/03 at 9:30am
Quote:
Originally posted by BuonRotto
I say take off the straightjackets, add more padding to the cell walls, and really let the lunatic fringe have their way. In other words, just bring back Fireside Chat, and move it to some dark corner of the AI fora. Whether it thrives or dies is inconsequential.

What was fireside chat ? And how was it different than AO ?

Sounds quite harmless...cozy even.
What is Faith? When your good deed pleases you and your evil deed grieves you, you are a believer. What is Sin? When a thing disturbs the peace of your heart, give it up - Prophet Muhammad
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What is Faith? When your good deed pleases you and your evil deed grieves you, you are a believer. What is Sin? When a thing disturbs the peace of your heart, give it up - Prophet Muhammad
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post #40 of 75
9/7/03 at 9:40am
Fireside Chat was an experiment in bringing the heat away from AppleOutsider. Basically, political discussions or any hot-button issues were for Fireside Chat, and things like "What song are you listening to" or "Bunnies are soft" were meant for AppleOutsider.

Actually I really don't know why they closed it. Because it was too hard to moderate? Why not just leave it unmoderated? It would make AO a better place to talk about nice things.
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